Final Phase Of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Nears Completion With Longest Tunnel T-50 Ready, Set For January 2024 Opening

In a significant step forward for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project, the 111-km-long final phase from Banihal to Katra, has entered last leg of completion.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the PMO took to X (formerly Twitter) and conveyed this information.

The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) aims to connect Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country by a broad-gauge railway line.

The rail link project which tackles the demanding Himalayan terrain, has been divided into four segments, namely, Udhampur-Katra, Katra-Banihal, Banihal-Qazigund, and Qazigund-Baramulla.

The first leg, covering a distance of 25 kilometers from Udhampur to Katra, was successfully completed and commissioned in July 2014. 

Leg-3, extending 18 kilometers from Banihal to Qazigund involving Pir Panjal Tunnel, was completed and opened to traffic in June 2013.

The last leg (Leg-4) spanning a formidable 118 kilometers from Qazigund to Baramulla, was completed in three phases, with the last phase commissioned in October 2009.

The latest sanctioned cost of the USBRL project is Rs 37,012.26 crore and is operational between Banihal - Baramulla in Kashmir Valley and Jammu-Udhampur-Katra in Jammu region.

The Katra-Banihal line is expected to be operationalised by January 2024.